Rutgers football game notes: Injury updates on Tverdov and Johnson

Senior defensive tackle Pete Tverdov, who injured his ankle on Thursday, could not get it to loosen up on the sidelines before the game and did not play. Tverdov had started 11 straight games.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano had no immediate word afterward on the status of starting DE George Johnson, who had to be helped off the field with an apparent left knee injury early in the second quarter.

Converted linebacker Blair Bines started in his place as Rutgers went mostly with four defensive linemen, two linebackers (Kevin Malast and Ryan D'Imperio) and five defensive backs.
The odd man out in the alignment was strong side linebacker Manny Abreu. The beneficiary was safety Zaire Kitchen, who made his first career start.

For the third straight game, Rutgers failed to generate a turnover.

The 0-3 start is just the 17th in the 139-year football history at Rutgers. Only one of the previous 16 teams -- the 1912 squad -- overcame the start to post a winning record.

Two guys who find themselves doing a lot of running these days were at the game. Former Rutgers star Ray Rice, now a rookie for the Baltimore Ravens, was on the Knights' sideline. Also in attendance was Sen. John McCain, who was celebrating his 50th class reunion at the Naval Academy.